Harry felt a little nervous as he got ready to go to the Weasley’s place. He had met most of the Weasley children already, but he couldn’t help but feel nervous. It would be nice to meet another person his age. He just wasn’t sure how Ronald Weasley would react to him. According to all the older Weasley children, Ron really wanted to meet him and so did their younger sister Ginny. Ron was very jealous that Harry had spent a lot of the year helping the twins with pranks.

Mrs. McGonagall approved of this visit. Normally she was a little agitated when Mr. Snape took Harry to visit Draco, but she wasn’t that morning. He would be going to the Weasley’s through the Floo Network since he was going on his own. He had been instructed to say ‘The Burrow’ when he stepped into the flames. Harry had of course used the Floo Network before, but this was his first time by his self. What would happen if he didn’t end up at the Burrow but somewhere else? He didn’t have someone following him to make sure.

He ate breakfast without speaking to Mrs. McGonagall. It was summer; many of the teachers were gone for vacation, Mr. Snape included. He wondered where a lot the teachers went. He knew Mr. Snape went home for the summer but he didn’t know about the others. He often wondered why they stayed at the castle and didn’t go to Mrs. McGonagall’s home. Didn’t she have one?

“Are you ready to go?” she asked him after a while.

Harry nodded; he still hadn’t eaten very much. If Ron wasn’t friendly, at least the twins would be there he reassured himself as they left the Great Hall. Percy would likely be there as well, but Harry didn’t get along with him as well. He wondered if Percy liked him after he and the twin’s were caught hiding Filches mop. He had given him a very stern look when he found out. Charlie would also be there, which gave Harry some comfort. He hoped maybe Bill would be visiting as well.

“Now, I want you to behave Harry,” Mrs. McGonagall told him as they walked to her office. He would be using her fireplace.

“I will,” he told her. “I always do at the Malfoys. That one time wasn’t my fault.”

“Yes Harry, but you were caught several times getting into mischief with the twins this year. Which brings me to another point I wanted to talk to you about this summer. I don’t mind that you hang around them, but I want you to stop helping them out with pranks,” she answered sternly.

“All right,” he said.

“I mean it Harry. I’ll start giving you detentions as well. You will be a student here next year. I’ll also take away privileges.”

“You already do,” Harry said looking up at her. “You didn’t let me fly for a week after I helped them hide Filch’s mop.”

“Mr. Filch Harry,” she corrected. “I know you don’t like him, but show him some respect please.”

They reached her office now. She took a pot from above the fireplace and held it out for him to take some of the powder from inside. He took a handful out of it and threw it in the fireplace. The flames instantly turned green. Harry really didn’t like travelling by Floo. It always made him dizzy and nauseous.

“Speak clearly,” she told him, “I’ll check to make sure you arrived safely.”

Harry nodded before stepping into the flames with his eyes closed. He yelled, “The Burrow!” as clearly as he could. He was suddenly spinning very fast through the flames. He already felt nauseous. He hoped it wouldn’t take long. There was a loud roaring in his ears as it went on. Then suddenly it stopped and he fell out of the fireplace. Harry felt someone grab his arm and pull him up. He looked up into the face of a kindly looking woman. She began dusting him off.

“Hello Harry dear. I’m glad you made it all right. Everyone is looking forward to seeing you,” she said.

“Hello,” he said.

He gazed around the tiny cramped kitchen; it was full of boys and one small girl, all had flaming red hair. There was also a man sitting at the table with thin balding red hair. He looked very excited to see Harry. There was an empty chair beside him which he was patting enthusiastically for Harry to sit in. Harry walked over to the chair slowly and sat in it.

“Have you had breakfast yet?” Mrs. Weasley asked.

“I ate some before I came here,” Harry answered nervously.

He looked around the table again. They were all watching him. The little girl looked at him, blushed and looked away. Beside her was a boy who could only be Ron, he was the only boy he didn’t recognise. He noticed Ron was watching him nervously as well, so Harry didn’t feel too bad. The twins wore identical grins. Percy was buttering a piece of toast as he stared without expression.

“This is Ron,” Charlie told him who was on Ron’s other side, “and our sister Ginny.”

“We’ve heard a lot about you,” Mr. Weasley said holding out his hand for Harry to shake, “it’s nice to finally meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too,” Harry agreed shaking his hand, “Where’s Bill?” he added looking around the kitchen now.

“Didn’t I tell you?” Charlie asked, “Bill lives in Egypt. He is a Curse Breaker for Gringotts. He went out there shortly last summer.”

“He visits once in a while,” Ron chimed in, “he said he wanted to be here when you visited but he couldn’t get a way.”

He was asked questions about what it was like living at Hogwarts while the Weasley’s finished their breakfast. When they were done, Charlie mentioned they should go outside where it was nice out. Harry followed them out noticing a lot of differences between this place and the Malfoy’s. The Malfoy’s place was very clean with expensive items everywhere. The Malfoy’s place was also very large. The Weasley’s place was cluttered and small. He liked it though, he liked a place that looked lived in.

He was shocked once he was outside and saw exactly what the house looked like. It looked as if it used to be an old stone pigsty with extra rooms added. It was several stories high. It was very crooked, Harry wondered if it was all held up by magic. On the back porch were a rusty cauldron and a pair of boots. He thought he saw a tiny creature running across the yard.

“What is that?” Harry asked.

“Oh those are garden gnomes,” Ron said quickly, “Mum doesn’t like them, but dad does. Maybe we could show Harry how to De-gnome a garden!”

“De-gnome?” Harry asked watching the gnome.

“Mum usually gets us to get rid of them,” Charlie answered, “they wreck the garden. They are always back by the next day of a De-gnoming.”

“My uncle and aunt didn’t have these kinds of gnomes,” Harry said as Fred walked over to the gnome.

He watched as Fred picked it up and swung it around like a lasso. He then released it and it flew about twenty feet away. Harry wasn’t sure he wanted to De-gnome the garden, it looked as if it hurt the gnomes. He didn’t like hurting innocent creatures. Hagrid had taught him all about magical creatures. He guessed a garden gnome was another magical creature.

“They probably had those plastic ones,” Charlie said, a dark look came over his face, just as it did with the rest of the Weasley’s, but Fred. They exchanged glances and Harry wondered if they all knew the reason why he was living at Hogwarts.

Draco Malfoy did because of his father. He had also sent Harry the clippings from the Daily Prophet on his birthday that had been about the trial. He told him his father had cut them out. He knew Harry had wanted to know more about the trial. In the clippings it said Lucius Malfoy, as a Governor for the school had been against Harry living at Hogwarts. Harry was surprised that Draco never rubbed it in his face. He had gone as far as rubbing the fact that Harry had no parents in his face but that was it.

Ginny was scowling down at the grass. Harry decided to change the subject quickly; he didn’t want to talk about his aunt and uncle. He wasn’t sure if any of them would bring it up.

“It looks like it might hurt them,” he said as Fred walked back over to them.

“Nah. It doesn’t,” Fred said, “Just makes them dizzy. Want to try it out? You can just watch if you’d like.”

The rest of the Weasley’s looked happier that the subject had changed from his aunt and uncle. Fred started leading them to a garden that had a lot of weeds in it. Harry noticed more gnomes as they approached the garden. There were also a lot of holes in the garden as well. A gnome poked its head out of one.

“You’re too little Ginny,” Percy said as Ginny walked over to a gnome.

The rest of the Weasley’s already reached for their own. Harry watched as Ginny glared at Percy, she put her hands on her hips. She was very small but Percy backed up from her glare.

“I am a year younger then Ron! Ron has been doing it since forever! I am not too little! I am turning nine soon Percy Weasley!” She shouted.

“No,” Percy said, “Why don’t you go sit down and watch?”

“I want to help!” Ginny yelled.

Harry didn’t think it wasn’t right that he was excluding Ginny who was near tears now. Though he was a guest at their place, Harry was ready to step forward and defend her. Charlie who had just thrown a Gnome about fifty yards away, looked at Percy with a disapproving look on his face.

“Oh leave her be Percy. She has de-gnomed a garden before. She knows what she is doing,” he winked at Ginny.

Harry guessed she hadn’t before, but Charlie was letting her know with a wink to play along with him. She looked from Charlie to Percy then nodded.

“I have de-gnomed a garden, so there!” Ginny said.

Then as if to prove her point, she walked up to one of the gnomes and picked it up. She spun it over her head, and then threw it about twenty yards away. Harry impressed that a little girl had a good arm joined in. Harry would have to ask Hagrid about gnomes when he was back at Hogwart’s. He had never seen one at the Malfoy’s place nor at Hogwarts.

When they were finished, they went back inside. Ron asked Harry if he wanted to see his room. Harry nodded wondering what another wizard’s room looked like. He had never seen Draco’s. He wanted to see if Ron had the same interests he did. The rest of the Weasley siblings disappeared as if giving Ron time to himself with Harry.

The staircase they walked up was very uneven. They walked up five flights of steps to a room that said Ronalds Room on a plaque which hung on a paint-chipped door. Ron opened the door and led Harry inside a small room with sloped ceilings. The ceiling was close enough to his head that if he jumped he would hit his head. The wall was covered in Chudley Cannon posters.

“They haven’t won in a long time you know,” Harry said.

Ron shrugged, “I know, but I still like them. I like all Quidditch though.”

“Me too,” Harry said as he glanced around the room. “I always look forward to the games at Hogwarts. Sometimes I play it with Draco Malfoy.”

Ron had a fish tank that was full of frog spawn. Beside it, there was a pile of comic books. He stepped closer to read the title: The Adventures of Martin Migg’s the Mad Muggle. He wondered if they were any good. Mrs. McGonagall had only ever given him educational comic books.

“You know the Malfoy’s are a bad family,” Ron said frowning at Harry, “I heard you play with Draco sometimes. You should be careful. Dad has told me they were you-know-who’s supporters.”

Harry nodded, “I know, but they aren’t anymore. Draco isn’t too bad most times and I’ve been taught you can’t judge people by their parent’s actions.”

“I guess,” Ron said uneasily, “but you should still be careful.”

Harry decided to change the subject by asking Ron about the comic books. Ron looked relieved by the change of subject and launched into a story about Martin Miggs. He was surprised that Harry hadn’t ever heard of him. It seemed to be Ron’s favourite comic. Ron moved over to the comic’s quickly. He was taller then Harry. His head was almost touching the room. He almost looked awkward as he moved; he was so tall and gangly.

“You can borrow them if you want,” he offered, “and do you collect chocolate frog cards? I do, almost got about four hundred now. I’m missing some.”

“Yes.” Harry said. “Did you know that the Headmaster, Dumbledore is on one?”

Ron nodded. He pulled out a tin from under the comic books and opened them. He started showing the ones he had and pulled out a few of Dumbledores. Harry looked in the tin to see of Ron had some that he didn’t. They could trade cards sometime if Ron wanted. He had done so with older students on several occasions. Draco Malfoy was the one to give him one of Merlin.

“What is he like?” Ron asked, “All my brothers say he is a genius, but I heard you are close. I can’t wait to meet him.”

“He is,” Harry said and began explaining Dumbledore and the rest of the teachers to Ron as well.

Ron seemed surprised that Harry was close with Mr. Snape. He had heard from his brothers’ that Mr. Snape could be nasty. Harry didn’t want to explain it, Draco had asked as well. He didn’t want them to know that Mr. Snape had shown him that magic was okay. He’d been beaten by his uncle whenever he mentioned or did magic. Mr. Snape had fixed his glasses with a wand, it was the first time he had seen anyone else do it. He was the first person besides Mrs. Figg and his teacher at school who had been nice to him.

Harry was saved from answering because Ginny walked in carrying something in her hands. She kneeled down beside Harry and dropped a rat in his lap.

“That’s Scabber’s, Percy’s rat,” She said, “we have an owl too but he is on a delivery.”

“Oh,” Harry said looking down at the rat wondering why she was showing him Scabber’s. He looked at her and she blushed before looking away. Ron stared at Scabber’s as well.

“Percy says some day he might give him to me,” Ron said, “that way I don’t have to take a toad to Hogwart’s,” he nodded at tank a full of frog spawn, “they say you can only take frogs, cats or owls. They don’t really notice when people bring other small animals though. Fred said a girl in his year has a turtle. Percy has taken Scabber’s.”

“I think it’s to stop people from bringing big animals. You know, like dogs. Hagrid has a dog named Fang. He is friendly though. I’ve seen people with other small animals as well,” Harry answered.

Ron asked more questions about Hogwart’s and what Harry was learning. Harry explained his lessons to both Ron and Ginny. He didn’t feel irritated explaining it to them. They weren’t asking for bragging rights. He hoped he could get to know Ron better, he felt this was a friendship that could last.

“What was Quirrel’s reason for not wanting to come back?” Severus asked interested.

“Albus told me he isn’t the same anymore,” Minerva answered, “he was scared of the very idea of teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts.”

Professor Sprout looked up very surprised. The school year would begin in less than a week. The teachers who had come back for term already were gathered in the teacher’s lounge. They had all been interested in Quirrel’s trip. He hadn’t talked about anything else for weeks during his last term at teaching. Minerva had reported to the teacher’s that the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher that year was Yvonne Despare. They all remembered her being a bright young lady at Hogwart’s. She had been a Ravenclaw a year before Severus.

“But that was one of his best classes when he was a boy at Hogwart’s,” Professor Sprout said, “Mind you, he was top of almost all of his classes. I do remember him telling me he got an Outstanding in his O.W.L’s and N.E.W.T’s”

“From what Albus said, he had a bad encounter with a Vampire. That isn’t a surprise to me. I could have told him that when he said he wanted to find wild Vampires,” Minerva said. “I guess he didn’t want to talk about his trip at all. He said to contact him in a year. He might be ready by then.”

Chatter broke around them about Quirrell not coming back. The new Defense Against the Dark Art’s teacher wasn’t there yet, so many were discussing her as well. Severus remembered her very well. He had to wonder what her reasons for coming back to Hogwart’s were. She had been one of the more gossipy Ravenclaw’s, but brilliant. She had wanted to work in the Ministry of Magic as an Unspeakable. He wasn’t sure if she had. She had been an acquaintance of Lily Potter’s. He wondered if her interest in Hogwart’s was because of young Harry.

“All right, coast is clear. I don’t know how we ever managed without this thing,” Fred whispered as they made their slow way through the corridors.

George held a finger to his lip and peered down at the Maurader’s Map in Harry’s hand, who was in the middle of the twin’s. According to the map, Filch was down on the third floor. Harry and the twin’s were up on the seventh floor. However, he could see that Mrs. Norris was a floor below them. At time’s he had to wonder if she could see through Invisibility Cloaks. Harry looked for Mrs. McGonagall. She was still asleep in her quarters, unaware that Harry was wandering the corridors after midnight.

“So where are we going anyway?” Harry whispered, “You said it was urgent.”

“Nah, it’s not. We just wanted to go for a night time stroll,” Fred answered, “hmm, Snape is down on the fifth floor.”

“Well, there is a hidden staircase up ahead,” George replied. “It will take us down to the fourth floor.”

Harry thought that living at Hogwart’s for five years would have given him knowledge of every passage in the school. This was not true, the twin’s were showing him passages he had never encountered before and they had only been at Hogwart’s for a little over a year. He had to remind himself that the first few years of his life at Hogwart’s he wasn’t allowed to go anywhere alone.

The twin’s opened a tapestry in the wall that revealed the hidden staircase. They walked slowly down the steps, still watching the Marauder’s map. Mr. Snape was now going up to the sixth floor. Filch was now down on the first floor. Harry squinted at the map that was lit but Fred’s wand. Sam Audrick was wandering down the corridors by himself. He was down in the dungeons near Mr. Snape’s office. Harry watched as the tiny dot moved into Snape’s office. Harry looked at Mr. Snape’s dot that was unaware on the sixth floor. Harry didn’t want to be a rat, but he had a feeling that Audrick was up too no good.

“Look!” Harry hissed pointing out Audrick’s dot to the twin’s.

“Sam Audrick?” Fred asked, “Who is that?”

“He is the one who told me that I was famous,” Harry explained, “he is always bothering me about what they teach me. He is a fifth year Hufflepuff. And he is in Mr. Snape’s office.”

Fred and George had long ago learned not to ask Harry why he liked Mr. Snape so much. They had also learned not to insult him in front of Harry. They both seemed to understand Harry’s indignation, or perhaps they were just curious as to why he was in Mr. Snape’s office. They leaned in closer to look at the map.

“Well, we can get down there quickly to see what he is up to,” Fred said, “see, once we are on the fourth floor; there is a hidden corridor here,” he pointed to a spot on the map, “It’s behind a door pretending to be wall. There is a staircase at the end here. This will take us to the second floor. It is close to the marble staircase. Filch is no where near there now.”

They walked quicker now, well aware that the cloak was likely flapping around their ankles. It didn’t matter. There was no one around to see them. Peeves the Poltergeist who liked to rat on students for the fun of it was on the sixth floor heading toward Mr. Snape. The rest of the ghosts weren’t any where near them. Harry doubted they would tell on them, the ghosts usually minded their own business.

There were a couple of times that they tripped over each other as they hurried. Audrick was over near Snape’s personal cupboards. He wondered if he was stealing potion ingredients then. Harry didn’t know why, the students were always allowed to help themselves to the ingredients in the student cupboards.

The dungeons were freezing at night. Harry wished he had grabbed a sweater to wear over his pajamas. He shivered slightly. They walked slower now that they were closer to Mr. Snape’s office. Harry wanted to confront him, but how could he without revealing the cloak, the map or the twins?

“He must be stealing something that isn’t usually kept in the student cupboard,” George said thoughtfully, “But I wonder what?”

“And what he is making,” Fred added, “can’t be too good, can it?”

“But he can’t be making anything dangerous?” Harry whispered they were just outside the office now, “I mean first of all, how could he be able to do it at school? Someone would find out. There aren’t many places here he could make it that the teacher’s don’t know about.”

Unless of course he know’s about the Room of Hidden Things? Harry thought to himself. Others had to know about it as well judging by the amount of hidden items in it. They waited outside the office for him to come out; maybe they could see what he was bringing out.

“If he really wanted to, he’d find away,” George answered. “Might not be dangerous. Obviously he wants to keep what he is making secret. He doesn’t have anyone looking out for him.”

“He has no friends,” Harry answered.

He was still in the office looking around. Harry had a sudden idea, he could pretend that he had come down to the dungeon looking for Mr. Snape. While he did this, he found Audrick in his office. He whispered his plan quickly to the twin’s. He told them to go back to their common room so they weren’t involved. They both looked at him.

“Let’s see, you a midget against a fifth year . . . I don’t think so,” George said, “You aren’t going in there alone.”

“We’re not leaving you behind,” Fred added. “Sounds as if he has Gryffindor blood in him after all George. Wants to take on a student when he doesn’t know any magic yet.”

“I don’t plan on taking him on,” Harry said, “I just want to know what he is stealing. He could hide whatever he takes in his robes. I’m just saying, if we’re caught together . . . ”

The twin’s both shook their heads. Harry stared at them in amazement. They were always known for their recklessness. Where was it now? They were acting like overprotective brothers. It was very uncharacteristic for them. They looked down at the Marauder’s Map. Harry saw that Audrick was now leaving the office. He could still dart out from under the cloak, but as if knowing what he was thinking, the twin’s grabbed his arms.

Audrick left the office moment’s later. He had his wand lit; his robe pockets appeared to be bulging. He wore a smirk on his face as he slowly closed the door. Harry saw the dot that said Severus Snape was down on the first floor now. They had only been watching Audrick’s dot and not any others. There was a chance Audrick could be caught without Harry’s interference. Audrick would have to go upstair’s in order to get to the Hufflepuff Common Room.

Once he was far enough ahead, they started following him slowly. Audrick peered over his shoulder a few times, but couldn’t see them. The followed him to the staircase that led to the first floor. Harry looked down at the map. Mr. Snape was heading in the opposite direction of the Entrance Hall. Audrick would get away with it. They followed him up the steps slowly still.

At the top of the step’s Harry wondered if he could make a noise to alert Snape they were there. Before he could, Peeves suddenly popped out of thin air in the Entrance Hall. He was laughing evilly, and then slowly his head turned. He spotted Audrick making his slow way to the stairs that would lead him to the Hufflepuff Common Room.

“Oooh Sammy whammy is out of bed . . . ” Peeves said cackling.

“Sod off Peeves,” Audrick said. “Go bother Mrs. Norris.”

“Sammy whammy never learns his lessons! Always out of bed, sneaking around the corridors,” Peeves said. “Shall tell Filch!”

“Don’t you tell on me again!” Audrick snapped. “I’m going back to bed now.”

“Let’s go,” Fred whispered, “If Peeves yells, which he will, we’ll be standing here for a long time.”

As slowly as they could, they moved through the Entrance Hall. Peeves was still taunting Audrick who was getting angry. Harry wondered why he didn’t just move. Harry knew he wouldn’t be sticking around, arguing with the poltergeist. When they reached the top of steps, Peeves started yelling.

“STUDENT OUT OF BED! SAMMY WHAMMY WANDERING AROUND!”

“Damn you Peeves!”

“Bloody Hell!” George yelled. “Run, Filch is on the sixth floor.”

They ran, taking as many short cuts and secret passages as they could all the way back to the Seventh Floor. Harry accompanied the twin’s to Gryffindor tower. He figured they could go in first, and then he would make his way invisible back to his room. They paused to look at the map to see if Audrick had been caught. Filch’s dot was hurrying down the steps; he must have heard Peeves cries. He was down on the second floor now. Snape was in the Entrance Hall with Peeves, but Sam was safely in Hufflepuff Common Room. He looked as if he was sitting alone.

When he dropped the twin’s off near Gryffindor tower, he made his slow progress back to his own room. Once he was in his room he lay in his bed awake wondering exactly what Audrick was up to.

Harry was distracted, Severus could tell. He’d had to repeat his instruction’s twice several times during their lesson. He was teaching Harry how to dodge curses. Harry had been petrified twice and disarmed once. Severus sighed and stared into Harry’s eyes, trying to see what he was thinking. Harry noticed what he was doing. He could see Harry trying to block his mind as Severus had taught him, but failed. He could see that Harry was thinking about Sam Audrick. There was also some sort of parchment but before Severus could see what it was, it was replaced with a comic book about Martin Migg’s. Harry’s face was red with concentration. The parchment was slowly returning as Severus tried to get into Harry’s mind again.

“I think Sam Audrick is up to something!” Harry shouted. “Now stop it.”

Long ago, Severus had told Harry he had to learn to block his mind. The boy hadn’t succeeded yet. His efforts always tired him out. Severus figured this was an exercise he should learn early so he could get better at it with time. Harry was glaring at him now.

“You shouldn’t do that without telling me,” he said now rubbing his temples. “Now I have a headache.”

“Do you think in the future someone who is a foe will warn you?” Severus asked. “You have to prepare now to block your mind from attacks you don’t see coming.”

Harry glared at him again and folded his arms as he sat down on a chair in the unused classroom they always used.

“I am not talking about an enemy. I am talking about you!” Harry snapped back. “Only do it without warning when you want me to learn it! Don’t do it when you want to learn my secrets.”

Severus glared back at him; he was seeing James Potter in Harry at the moment. Harry didn’t back down, just as his father never did. Harry stared at him defiantly. Harry hadn’t glared at him in this way since he’d out how Severus felt about James.

“Do not snap back at me,” Severus said slowly. “Now, tell me. Why do you think Sam Audrick is up to something?”

“Promise you will never do that again unless you have to,” Harry said. “It’s not right to do that. I wanted to tell you . . . but I want to trust you first. I thought I did.”

Severus sighed. Harry did have a point. He shouldn’t have invaded his mind. He did want Harry to trust him enough that he didn’t have to invade his mind for secrets. The look Harry was giving him wasn’t one of hatred. It was one that told him he had betrayed his trust and he was angry about it.

“All right. You are right. I should not have done that. You were very distracted today and I wanted to know why. I should have asked,” Severus said, “I’m sorry Harry.”

“I was trying to think of a way to tell you. That’s why I was distracted. I have been for weeks. I-I can’t tell you exactly how I know,” Harry answered.

Severus nodded thinking back to a night weeks ago. It had been his night to patrol the corridors for anyone out of bed. As he was finishing his patrol, he could hear Peeves yelling something about ‘Sammy Whammy’ and hurried to find out what was going on. The teachers all know that Peeves called Sam Audrick that; he had caught the boy out wandering at night before. Peeves refused to tell him anything though. He had just laughed at him and disappeared. He ran into Filch afterward who was demanding to know what Peeves was shouting about.

“I do not know,” Severus answered wanting to brush Filch off.

The next morning when he was looking for some potion ingredients, he found that some were missing. At the time he thought maybe he had displaced some. Now he wasn’t sure. If Harry didn’t want to tell him why he thought Sam had been out, it must have meant that Harry was wandering around the corridors under his cloak. He just didn’t know what a piece of parchment could have anything to do with it. Harry seemed hesitant to continue, he knew Harry didn’t like telling on other students. He had lied for students several times in the past.

“Harry, I noticed one morning that potion ingredients were missing from my private store. If you suspect a student is stealing from me, you aren’t doing anything wrong by telling me. Is this what you suspect?”

Harry nodded, “I can’t tell you how I know it was Sam.”

“In the future, I would advise you not to wander the corridors at night. Next year as a student, you will be given detention and lose points for whatever house you are sorted into. This is a rule you must follow now, and I know you know that. We told you that you couldn’t use that cloak to hide from us,” Severus said, “But I am glad you told me. I will investigate this myself. Please do not worry about it. Now, would you like to continue with our lesson?”

Harry nodded. He stood up and went into the duelling position. He held his fake wand over his head as he stared at Severus prepared. He hoped Harry didn’t get distracted in any of his classes the next year.

Harry was used to being around the teachers. He often sat with many of them in their offices to talk to them. Professor (as he was told to call the teachers now) Despare liked to invite him to her office a lot. It was well into the school year and he had lost count of how many times he had been asked to sit in her office to share a drink. At first he thought it was because she wanted to meet him because he was famous. He wasn’t so sure anymore. She seemed interested in him. It hadn’t taken him long to learn who was sincere and who wasn’t.

“Did you know my parents?” Harry asked her as they sat in her office one evening.

She was a very pretty woman with dark hair and blue eyes. Harry hadn’t really paid much attention to appearances before, but it was hard not to with this woman. He had never seen anyone so beautiful, except perhaps the pictures of his mother. She smiled at him.

“I did. Why do you ask?” she answered.

“Well I know you went here with them. You were just older and in Ravenclaw. Professor Snape told me,” Harry answered.

It was hard to call them ‘Professor,’ but Professor McGonagall insisted Harry get in the habit now. He would have to address them as teachers when he was a student in less then a year. She reached across her desk and patted the hand that Harry had on her desk.

“I knew your mother. We weren’t good friends, but we did talk often. Now as for your father, well I was a prefect in my days here. There were many times when I had to put him in detention. He was very good-natured about it though. Asked me out one time.” She answered.

“Wait a minute. He asked you out? You mean on a date? But what about my mum? Wasn’t he with my mum?” Harry asked not liking this information.

“Oh don’t misunderstand me Harry. We never dated. He was very much in love with your mother. They didn’t date until their seventh year when they were- er ready to. This was back in my fifth year and his fourth year,” She answered quickly.

“Oh,” Harry said, still not wanting to hear this. He decided to change the subject. He hadn’t ever thought about his dad being with anyone but his mother. He knew teenagers at Hogwart’s dated but it was strange thinking of his parents as teenagers, even if he didn’t remember them. “You and my mum got along then?”

“Oh yes,” She said and began telling him how they had met when Lily had been in her fifth year. She had been made a prefect in her fifth year. The prefects usually had to patrol the corridors together. They had been assigned as a pair and had hit off a friendship. Harry liked hearing stories about his parents and enjoyed this one.

“I couldn’t wait to meet Lily and James’s son, and not because you are famous Harry. I don’t want you to think that. I was interested in meeting you weeks after you were born. I always liked your parents you see,” she said, “so when Professor Dumbledore asked me if I wanted to teach for a year I said yes. I had applied shortly after I graduated but he told me I was too young, so I worked at the Ministry until now. I still work there, so to speak. I took a leave of absence.”

Harry nodded. He could tell she was being truthful. Professor Snape had taught him how to tell when someone lied. She wasn’t lying; she was sincerely interested in meeting him because of whom his parents were. She didn’t care that he was just a famous name, though he could tell she was intrigued by his history. He knew she wouldn’t ask about it though; it was in her expression she wouldn’t. She just wanted to be his friend.

Severus looked through the ingredients that had gone missing. It had taken him a few days, but he finally figured out what Sam Audrick was making. He hadn’t noticed at first, but after he checked his cupboard again he saw that some of the venoms used in Veritaserum were missing as well. He wasn’t sure why the boy was making it, but he could easily be expelled for using it on another student. Severus had no doubt that Audrick would make a successful potion; he was the best potion-maker he had seen in his years teaching at Hogwarts.

Severus waited until one fifth year O.W.L class to keep him back. The students were all nervous as they usually were in O.W.L year. Audrick, however didn’t look troubled. The look he gave Severus was a smug one, as if he thought Severus would compliment his work for the day. It had been outstanding, but Severus wasn’t going to give the boy something to gloat about.

“Sit down Mr. Audrick,” Severus said as soon as the class was empty but for him and Audrick. “I have a few questions to ask you and I warn you, I will find out if you are lying.”

Sam looked a little apprehensive now. Severus wondered just how well the boy was at Occlumency. Sam looked down into his lap as if knowing what Severus was thinking. He wouldn’t use Leglimency on him yet, that would be a last resort.

“I’ve noticed that there are some ingredients missing from my private store. Now-”

“What? So just because I am good at making potions I am going to get blamed for this?” Audrick snapped, not looking at Severus still. “Maybe you just misplaced ingredients!”

“Do not talk back to me, or interrupt Mr. Audrick. Ten points from Hufflepuff! I noticed these particular ingredients were missing from my cupboard the night after Peeves told me a student was out of bed. He told me he saw you out of bed,” Severus said.

Audrick may have been a good student, but when he was confronted by a teacher or another student he got nervous. Audrick’s face was definitely pale at this point. He was also moving his fingers around in his lap nervously. He still didn’t look at Snape as he spoke.

“You know Peeves has always had it out for me,” Audrick answered. “Why don’t you check with little Fred and George Weasley? They’ve been known to steal from teachers. They attacked me in the corridors a week ago for no reason. I didn’t even know they knew who I was. Maybe they were out that night and told Peeves to tell you it was me.”

“Peeves doesn’t lie for students,” Severus had to wonder if the twins had been out that night as well. If Harry had been out, they could have been with him. It might have been the reason Harry hadn’t wanted to tell him the truth about what he knew. Peeves didn’t lie for the Weasley twins either. He had caught them a few times because of Peeves. “The Potion ingredients that were taken from me were to make a very advanced potion. One that I can’t see a student less than sixth year, being able to brew. Unless of course it’s a student who is very advanced for his age.”

Severus got up from his chair and walked over to his book shelf where a few copies of Advanced Potion Making was and grabbed one. He made sure to avoid a certain one. He grabbed a ratty older copy instead. He placed it on the desk and began flipping through the pages until he found the page to make Veritaserum. Audrick glanced at the page and looked away quickly again. Severus smiled inwardly; the boy was giving himself away.

“Although we do teach this potion at the sixth year level, we don’t allow for students to use it against each other. It is a potion to be made under supervision, and then marked on its effectiveness. The Potion Master of the school usually does this for the students in case it isn’t effective. If the potion isn’t made right, it could kill the drinker.”

Audrick looked up from his lap, “And you likely wouldn’t believe me that I don’t plan to use it on any student.” He said angrily, face still pale.

“Is this a confession Mr. Audrick?” Severus asked icily. “Did you or did you not steal from me.”

“I wasn’t planning on using it on anyone. I haven’t made it yet,” Audrick answered, “there isn’t anyone that I care to hear the truth about that goes here.”

“Except Mr. Potter,” Severus couldn’t help but say, everyone knew his interest in Harry.

“I would never use it on him. He is a little kid. And I’ve told everyone that I never meant to tell him that he was famous. It slipped out. I know his past; I wouldn’t do anything to him that would harm him. This has nothing to do with anyone at Hogwarts.” Audrick said, looking Severus in the eye now for the first time.

He could see the truth in his face this time. Severus looked into his thoughts quickly trying not to let Audrick know what he was doing. A man that looked a lot like Audrick appeared quickly, which meant Audrick was already thinking about him. Severus looked down at the potion text book and shut it with a snap. He wasn’t going to question further into it now.

“I would like the ingredients returned to me. You will serve detention with me every night this week,” Audrick’s face went even paler at that point.

“Sir, I need my evenings to do homework! Couldn’t I do it every weekend instead?” Audrick asked, “I mean; I’m sure you need the week nights as well to mark people’s homework.”

“No,” Severus answered, “you will come to my office every night at seven this week. One hundred points will be taken from Hufflepuff as well. You do not have the right to steal from me, or wander the corridors at night. You’re lucky you aren’t expelled for sneaking in my office and stealing at night.”

Audrick made an annoyed noise but didn’t say anything else. He wished it was always this easy to get students to confess. He dismissed Audrick than put the book away. He would have to tell Harry that he had confronted Audrick, though he wouldn’t tell him what he had planned to make. He had a feeling Harry was still trying to investigate why Audrick had been stealing from his private store.

Harry watched as the Gryffindor team was slowly getting ahead. They had to try and win a lot of points for that game. Otherwise, they would lose the cup once again to Slytherin. He sat beside Professor McGonagall holding up a Gryffindor flag and waving it around. Everyone had been anticipating this game. It was against Hufflepuff, the last game of the year.

It had been a long year. Harry was glad it was almost over because he would soon be a student at Hogwarts. He had been allowed to visit Ron Weasley as much as he had wanted that year. He liked visiting the Burrow. Mrs. Weasley always made him feel at home. He didn’t have to worry about his appearance, or if he, Ron and Ginny had cleaned up after playing. They were a lot more laid back in the Weasley household.

At Malfoy Manor, they always had to make sure everything was kept in best shape. It didn’t make sense to Harry since they had a House Elf to do it for them. Though Harry didn’t like making a lot of work for Dobby; he didn’t like the way the poor elf was treated. Draco didn’t seem to care when Dobby would start beating himself up as a punishment.

Strangely, Sam Audrick had also started talking to him in a friendly way as well. He didn’t demand answers from him anymore. Instead, he always asked him how his day was going and if he looked forward to becoming a student at Hogwarts. Just that day before the match, Audrick had stopped Harry in corridors.

“Hey Harry, if you ever need help with any of your homework, next year let me know,” he had said, “first year can always be a difficult year because you are finally doing magic. It’s not as easy as waving your wand and saying the incantation.”

“I know,” Harry answered, “Professor Snape told me. But thanks for the offer.”

Harry wasn’t sure if he ever would ask Audrick but he liked the change in the boy. He wondered if Professor Snape had told him to lay off him after he had confronted him for stealing the ingredients. Harry knew Professor Snape hadn’t mentioned it was Harry who had seen him stealing the ingredients.

He watched as one of the Weasley twins hit a bludger toward one of the Hufflepuff players. It could easily have been one of the twins who had changed Sam. They had been very rude to him over the past year since they had caught him.

They were very good Quidditch players. He had watched their tryouts at the beginning of the year. They along with a girl from their year named Angelina made the team. She was one of the Chasers. Another girl from their year, Alicia had been made a reserve for the Chasers. Charlie had said she would likely be on the team the next year since the other two Chaser’s were in the Seventh year. Oliver Wood, the fourth year Keeper would be the captain in a year, he had liked her performance as well.

Harry thought he saw the Snitch down near the goal posts. He looked up at Charlie who was still circling the pitch looking for it. Harry wanted to yell and point it out to him, but then it would alert the Hufflepuff Seeker as well. He figured it was against the rules anyway. The Snitch was gone after a few moments. Harry sat back disappointed. Charlie was an excellent Seeker, but Gryffindor still hadn’t won in years.

Hufflepuff was keeping up with Gryffindor as the game went on. The Hufflepuff team had really excellent Chaser’s that year. Their beaters were no-match against Fred and George Weasley however. The two of them were the best beater’s Harry had ever seen play in his five years at Hogwarts. Suddenly, the Hufflepuff Seeker was diving. Charlie spotted him and started following him after the Snitch.

Harry leapt up in his seat and started yelling: “GO CHARLIE GO!”

“We still won’t win,” Professor McGonagall said from beside him, “Slytherin will still be a hundred points ahead. If we could keep the game going longer then-”

But Charlie had just caught the snitch from under the Hufflepuff Seeker’s nose. The Gryffindor’s were cheering. Harry didn’t know why, if they weren’t going to get the Quidditch Cup, why did it matter? Professor McGonagall was cheering beside him. She saw him looking at her with amazement.

“Even if we didn’t win the cup, they did play well. It’s best to keep the teams spirit up. They did win this game.”

The Cup was awarded to Slytherin, but the Gryffindor’s were still celebrating in their Common Room anyway. Harry was in his room by himself when the Weasley twins turned up with arms full of butterbeer. They were followed by Charlie Weasley shortly. They sat down in Harry’s sitting area and handed Harry a butterbeer. Harry hesitated before taking it. Professor McGonagall had said he should wait until he was at least twelve or thirteen to try one.

“What are you three doing here?” Harry asked opening the butterbeer.

“Thought we would celebrate with you for a bit. McGonagall wouldn’t let us take you back to Gryffindor tower with us. She says you aren’t in the house and won’t necessarily be in Gryffindor either,” Fred answered, “she said we could sit with you for a bit.”

“Does she know about this?” Harry asked holding up the butterbeer.

He had taken a sip of it. It had tasted delicious. It was even better than Pumpkin Juice.

“No, we’ll take them with us before we go. She is having a meeting with Dumbledore at the moment,” George answered.

“Why are you celebrating if you didn’t win the cup?” Harry asked taking another drink of butterbeer.

“Well, we won the match,” Charlie said. “I was trying to wait until we had more points ahead. I had seen the Snitch a few times before that, but I ignored it. But when I saw Montin flying after it, I decided to go after it. I wanted to get a win for Gryffindor at any rate. We are second place. Hopefully next year Wood can put together a great team too win the cup.”

“This years team wasn’t too bad,” George said, “we had good players.”

“Gryffindor always has had good players,” Harry said, “but Slytherin always seems too win.”

“Well,” Charlie said holding up his bottle of butterbeer. “To Gryffindor!”

“Gryffindor!” Fred, George and Harry yelled out.

The door opened to Harry’s room. Harry quickly hid the bottle behind his back. However, it was only Oliver Wood and the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, Percy Weasley, and a boy with dread locks followed them.

“Having a party without the rest of the team?” Oliver asked; he looked around Harry’s room. “Although, I am surprised it’s in here.”

“He shouldn’t be drinking butterbeer,” Percy said pointing to Harry.

“Give it a rest Perce. It’s only one,” Charlie said, “I believe you had your first one around his age anyway.”

Percy looked disapproving for a moment, and then sat down in one of the chairs. He took a butterbeer from George and drank it in silence as everyone else started yelling out about the game. The boy with dread locks sat down beside Harry and introduced himself as Lee Jordan, the twin’s friend. He looked around the room.

“Nice place you have here. Are you going to be living here next year?” Lee asked.

Harry shook his head, “Next year I’ll live in the dormitory of the house I am sorted into. But all my stuff will stay here.”

“Still a nice place. I’m sure you’ll be able to use it when you want won’t you? More Gryffindor parties, what do you say?”

Harry laughed; he couldn’t see Professor McGonagall approving of that. She had told him he could use it when he wanted but he doubted she meant for parties. He was surprised she was letting this go on. They stayed for most of the evening in Harry’s room until she walked in. She surveyed the room and saw all the butterbeers. Harry waited for her to get angry with them.

“All right,” she said, “it’s almost curfew. You all need to return to Gryffindor tower now. Clean up your mess before you go please.”

She didn’t say anything else. She left the room once she saw that the party was breaking up. Harry looked down at the butterbeer in his hand. He wondered if he was going to get a lecture for drinking it later. He wondered exactly where they had gotten all the butterbeer anyway.